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12/09/2005: "Signature Select and Category"
So the Signature Select program at Harlequin is now officially defunct. What? You never heard of it? Yeah, I thought so.
Well, I did two novellas for them. One was the Elvis book, and the other is the time travel - called Time After Time in the collection called Perfect Timing, that will be out in May. It's going to be one of the last of the Signature Select books put out, and wouldn't it be neat if it sold like gangbusters? Yeah, they probably won't print a whole bunch of them, but I do hope you all take a chance and read the stories. Time Travel! The other authors are the wonderful Julie Kenner and Nancy Warren. You can't beat that.
What does it all mean? (Not the book - the demise of Signature Select). I have no clue, except there's another market gone. It was supposed to be a stepping stone for category writers - a way to move them from category to single title. Did it succeed? No. Did they give it a chance? No. I feel so badly for the writers who were contracted and now don't know what will become of their books. It's scary out there.
I truly fear for the future of category romance. With so many choices out there, it seems that fewer people are choosing to read it. But it also feels as though Harlequin doesn't believe so much in category any more.
I'm lucky, I write for Blaze. But even Blaze isn't selling like the older Harlequins did. I heard a rumor that Silhouette Desire is changing its format, moving more toward a sexier Presents. I'm not exactly sure what that means, or even if it's true, but if that's so…Desire! One of the most dependable reads out there, with loyal fans and happy writers. Are they going to get more readers? Or just alienate their fan base?
I don't know. I just know I have to finish up the book, make sure it's the best it can be, and then start on the next book in the series. Will the whole series be written? I have no clue. Can I afford not to write single title? I don't think so. Yikes.
Replies: 9 Comments
on Friday, December 9th, kim said
oh that is too bad. I love blazes book, i hope they don't take that away. I know what they should take away, but not blazes book 
on Friday, December 9th, Alyssa said
Wow. I'm sad about this because I like the concept. There have been some great books so far, and I like the little extras (interviews and such) they include in the back.
You're right that they haven't really given the line a chance.
I'm looking forward to your time-travel, though. 
on Friday, December 9th, a writer said
Re: Desires
I'm voiting for "take away their fan base". I've read some of the ones they are pointing to as examples of the new direction. 
on Friday, December 9th, Jordan said
The latest Romantic Times Magazine has a large article on Harlequin and the shake up it's doing with several of the lines. One of the things mentioned is adding spice to the Presents. I believe they also talked about the Select line. (They actually discussed every line they had and the changes/deletions that will take place in 2006.) You're right it is very scary. Perhaps someday I'll stop being a day late and a dollar short. Good luck with your stories.
on Friday, December 9th, Sadhbh said
Jo - I hear you and sympathise
Unfortunately there seems to be a trend towards Change for Change's sake. In my experience that just alienates the current fans without attracting more. It's weird because Sam Hunter and a lot of Blaze authors caution against writing exclusively to follow market trends, and yet Harlequin seems to be opening and closing lines on that basis, without leaving their fan base enough time to react. I know the chances that Harlequin will go down the tubes as a publisher are relatively slim, but instead of increasing their share of the market, they might actually lose some of their faithful fans. I hope not, but as you say, it's a scary world with loads of competition for a dwindling amount of dollars in peoples' purses
Hugs
on Saturday, December 10th, Nicole said
Wow...I liked the Select concept and have bought quite a few.
One thing that sucks for it is that they're only on the shelves at Target for a month or so versus the longer time they've gotten in the bookstores. Though now Target has severely cut down on Harlequins it stocks (only an endcap at my store), so I don't think I saw the Selects in there at all this month or last. Does something like that hurt sales? I'd imagine so.
on Sunday, December 11th, Jo said
Boy, seems like we're all on the same page. All I can do is wonder how it's all going to turn out. My hope is that it'll be good for the readers.
on Tuesday, December 13th, Glenice said
Geez I spend the weekend making cookies and wrapping Christmas presents and this is what I get to catch up on
OH MAN! I love that line!
I was just at the store and did not see your new one but I will keep a lookout for it...I did not realize it would be out this soon!! YIPPIE!!!
on Friday, December 16th, Laure said
From my POV, Hqn is killing lines faster than they can come up with new ones and, in the process, killing themselves.
I used to love Presents, but just can't stand them anymore. How many Greek/Italian tycoons with secret babies do they think we can stand?
Over the past year or so I've been reading fewer and fewer Desires. I still buy some of my favorite authors, but I don't like the direction the line is now going, esp. since it sounds much more like Presents.
And, of course, they've morphed Sil Romance and Harl Romance into one line - will be interesting to see what that brings us...and how long it will last. I give it a year, if that.
It's sad to see Harlequin floundering the way it has the past 6 years or so. I especially feel for the many writers it affects, both published and non.
